The Control Yuan yesterday faulted the Ministry of the Interior for failing to act promptly after receiving early warnings of a crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak in Dongsha Atoll National Park, urging corrective measures and long-term follow-ups to protect the coral reefs.
Academic teams detected an abnormal number of starfish in the park in 2019 and 2023, and reported their findings to the ministry, Control Yuan member Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇) said.
However, on both occasions the ministry waited about two months before conducting inspections and concluded there was no immediate problem, Tien said in a statement issued by the Control Yuan, the agency charged with overseeing government officials.
Photo courtesy of the Marine National Park Headquarters via CNA
A large-scale outbreak happened last year, causing severe coral damage that has yet to be brought under control, she said.
Crown-of-thorns starfish reproduce rapidly and are difficult to detect in their early stages, Tien said, adding that a single adult starfish could consume large areas of live coral each year, making timely monitoring and response critical.
Official estimates showed that the outbreak has affected about 60 hectares of reef and that there were about 74,000 starfish at its peak.
Despite intensive removal efforts, there are still about 30,000 starfish remaining and they continue to threaten coral ecosystems, Tien said.
Logistical constraints, such as rough seas, its long distance from Taiwan, military access control, and limited vessels and equipment, have hampered removal work, underscoring the need for better planning and resources, she said.
The Control Yuan urged the Executive Yuan to coordinate across agencies to streamline access procedures, bolster frontline capacity and improve monitoring of high-risk areas.
It also called on the Ministry of the Interior and the Ocean Affairs Council to work with researchers on long-term prevention and control strategies.
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